Head of a Man 1877

Alphonse Legros created this head of a man with pen and brown ink, sometime in the late 19th century. Legros was part of a movement which sought to revive older, more austere printmaking techniques, influenced by the social realism of the time. Legros made his name depicting the lives of the poor, his work often carrying the weight of the social issues of his time. This head is rendered in delicate lines, and it seems to capture the sitter in a moment of reflection. His gaze is averted, and his features seem to suggest weariness, if not resignation. There is an intimacy to this portrait, as Legros avoids idealization. It prompts us to consider the lives and emotional landscapes of those often overlooked in grand narratives. It also invites us to consider the identities and histories of working-class men, and their complex humanity.